Sounders FC 1, Isidro Metapan 0 — Seattle player quotes

(Was that the quickest goal you’ve scored?) “I think so. From the bench and while I was warming up my focus and concentration was on scoring a goal and on my first play I managed to score.”

(On where goal ranks personally…) “It definitely represents a lot. It’s part of the team’s history. I scored the first goal in MLS and now the first international goal as well. A beautiful goal for me and always recognizing the goodness of playing with this team and all the colleagues with me.”

(On style of play…) “They knew the style of play in the MLS. They know that we can run all 90 minutes. They kept possession for a long time and watched them fault in the back. We knew the goal was very important to keep the advantage and for the next game as well.”

(On the shot…) “It was a three point goal. We always try to make it beautiful. This time maybe not so beautiful, but it was incredibly important and I’m very happy about it.”

(On being prepared to come in off the bench…) “The warmup was very good. I was very focused. I had the motivation and really wanted to face the team. It was a decision from the coach, but I was ready and motivated. I’m very happy that I was able to get out and help the team.”

(On studying the keeper before coming in…) “The keeper has good technique. Usually keepers with such good technique tend to play a little more forward. I observed that and wanted to test him early on and that’s why I attempted a shot and good thing it went in.”

(On style of play and importance of the game…) “The style of play is similar, I was familiar. Many teams in Colombia play with similar rhythm. So I understand the dynamic of how the defenders play. I can talk to them and try to get them out of their game a little bit. It was definitely an important game and we had to play in our rhythm and our fashion. It will be important to know that they will attack and that we will counterattack them.”

Kasey Keller – Sounders FC Goalkeeper

(On the game…) “Overall, we were not quite at our best today but we got the goal and we got the win. It’s something to hold on to down in El Salvador. It’s going to be a tough game. They are a crafty team. I thought we stuck with them pretty well. I think physically we were better and that showed in the end of the game. I had very little to do and I was happy about that.”

(On Metapan having to open up in the second leg playing to your advantage…) “It could be. At the same time, if we fall into a shell and let them come at us when what we need to do is to keep the same attitude in the back, keep it tight. If we do it the right way, we should have a lot of opportunities on the other end.”

(On Sounders FC offense…) “I really thought we wanted to come away from this game with two or three goals. We had opportunities, we didn’t take them. Hopefully that doesn’t come back to haunt us. I feel very comfortable that we can go down there and get a result. The nice part is we come away with a win and without conceding an away goal.”

(On going into second leg 1-0…) “It’s great. I mean, 0-0 is not a bad result for us either at home because, like I said, with the away goals counting as double in the case of a tie. Having that lead means that they have to beat us by two and I feel very confident that we can go down there and not concede a goal and be comfortable in scoring two or three.”

(On last few matches…) “I think over the last five or six matches we have really turned that corner that we have talked about that we were capable of – the fighting for one another. I think there is a whole new amount of energy going out there and once again Fredy Montero came on and was working hard. I think that fans appreciated the fact that he is chasing people down and doing things and that’s infectious. When guys are working like that it draws other people to work like that as well. We have to keep that going and the harder you work the easier it is to work harder the next game.”